Device to be used in connection with toilet bowls



Sept. 28, 1937. c. L. HEALD 2,094,170

DEVICE TO BE USED IN CONNECTION WITH TOILET BOWLS Filed May 28, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet'l ENTORI fiEHLD I ATTORNEY.

Sept. 28, 1937. a HEALD 2,094,170

DEVICE TO BE USED IN CONNECTION WITH TOILET BOWLS Filed May 28, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 N VENTOR. BY E. L. EFILD ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 28, 1937 PATENT- oFFics DEVICE TO BE USED INLCONNECTION WITH TOILET BowLs Clarence L. Heald, Sigourney, Iowa- Application May 28, 1937, Serial No. 145,264

7 Claims.

The principal object of my invention is to accompanying drawings, in which:

provide an attachment for toilet bowls that is capable of furnishing a regulated stream of Water or other cleansing fluid, at suitable temperatures, for washing and cleansing the anus.

A further object of this invention is to provide a washing device for attachment on toilet bowls that .may be easily and quickly operated by the A still further object of my invention is to provide a washing attachment for toilet bowls that may be easily attached to or detached from the ordinary toilet bowl now in general use.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a washing .device for attachment on toilet bowlsthat is refined in appearance, economical in manufacture, and durable in use.

Theseand other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

My invention. consists in the construction, arrangement. and combination of the various parts of the device, wherebythe objects contemplated .are attained. as hereinafter more fully set forth, .pointed out in my claims .and illustrated in the Fig-1 is a side view of my .complete device in- .stalled on a toilet bowl and; ready for use.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of-a toilet bowl show.- ing aportionof my device installed on the same. Fig. 3 is a side sectional viewof the, hinged :portion of the closet seat of the device. I i

Fig. 4 is a side sectional. view offithe hand operated valve mechanism and kindred elements of the device. I

Fig. 5 is'aschematic showingof my attach- .ment with some of the parts shown in conventional form.

Referring to the drawings, I have used the numeral Ill to designate an ordinary toilet bowl having the rim II and hinged seat 12. The numeral l3 designates a waterpipe designed to have one of its ends communicating with a source of water or like under pressure and its other end communicating with the inside of the usual toilet reservoir M. The numeral l5 designates the toilet lid. i

It is to such plumbing that I have installed my device, .or to which it is ,to be installed, and which I will now describe. I have used the numeral Hi to designate a cabinetfor housing a part of the mechanism of the device. The purpose of this cabinet is toget as much-of the operating mechanism of the deviceas possible in one base con- ;tainer,; thereby making for safety, compactness,

seasetof installation, and refined appearance. In

the drawings, I show this cabinet directly under the reservoir I4. Inside. the cabinet IE is a small electric liquid heater l-i. As is well known, such heaters consist-of a jar member through which the water to be heated flows .and in which is resistance wire t8 as shown in Fig. 5 and which is designed to be in communicationwith a source of electrical energy. I have used the numerals l9 and MI to designate the two te'rminal connections of the heating unit.

The numeral 2| designates .a pipe having one end communicating with the inside ofthe pipe i3 and its other end communicatin with the inlet opening of the heating unit H. The numeral 22 designates a Valve interposed in the pipe 2| for controlling or preventing the flow of a fluid through the pipe 2|. The numeral 23 designates a cylindrical container positioned .at one side of the bowl rim H" as shown in Fig. 2 and which forms the basis for the manually operated control valves and mechanism which will. hereinafter be explained. The numeral- 24 designates a pipe having'one end communicating with the outlet port of the heating unit I! and its other end communicating with the inside of the container 23. The numeral 2'5 designates an arm operatively rigidly ment tothe seat l2.

secured against move- This arm 25, therefore,

-moVes with-the-seat I2 and extends substantially downwardlyat the rear of the bowl l0 when the seat I2 is in a lowered-position as shown in Fig.

l. The numeral 26 designates a reciprocating shaft having one end. connected to the valve mechanism of thevalve 22 and its other end capable of being engaged bythe arm 25 as shown in Fig. 1 The numeral 21 designates a coil spring having one end operatively connected to the shaft 26 and its other end engaging the housing of the valve 22 for yieldingly. holding the shaft 26 toward the bowl I0. By this-construction, it will be noted that the seat 12 will be normally held in a position as shown in Fig. l and slightly abovethe rim of the bowl. ll. Obviously, when weight is placed on the'seat l2, the arm 25 will move rearwardly, forcing the shaft 26 rearwardly and permitting water to pass into the heating unit against the action of ;the spring 21, thereby opening the valve22 and nal of a source ofelectrical energy having'its other endconnected to the terminal 20 as shown in Fig. 5.

The numeral 29 designatesa momentary electric swit h imPQSed n e l t??? e Ih switch has the operating arm which is rigidly secured to the shaft 26. By this arrangement of parts, when weight is placed on the seat I2 not only will water pass into the heating unit I! but the switch 29 will be closed, thereby resulting in the connecting of the resistance wire l8 with the source of electric energy, provided the Water inside the heating unit is below a pre-determined temperature. This control of the temperature of the water inside the heating unit is controlled by an ordinary electric switch thermostat 3|, which is also imposed in the electric lead line 28, and positioned inside a container also holding the heat unit IT. This thermostat 3| is imposed in the pipe 24 at a point past the heat unit l'l. Obviously, when the temperature of the water inside the heating unit I! reaches a pre-determined temperature, the automatic thermostat 3i will break the circuit of the electric lead wire 28 and prevent the resistance wire l8 from further heating the water inside the heating element. When the water inside the heating unit is below the predetermined temperature, the automatic thermostat 3| will close the circuit and permit a fiow of electrical energy to reach the resistance wire [8. The numeral 32 designates the second electric lead line having one end connected to the terminal l9 and its other end designed to be in communication with the negative side of the source of electrical energy.

Returning to the cylinder container 23, it will be noted that the lower end of this member is horizontally rotatably mounted on the upper end of the pipe 24. This is accomplished by the pipe 24 having a peripheral flange 33 located between the bottom of the container 23 and a flange nut 34 threaded in the bottom of the container 23, as shown in Fig. 4. The numeral 35 designates a pipe having one end rigidly secured to the inside of the container 23 and communicating with the inside of that member at a point near its top. This pipe 35 extends into the bowl It by passing between the rim H and seat l2 and its length is such that when the member 23 is rotated to a given position, its discharge end which extends directly upwardly, will be near the center of the bowl I!) as shown in Fig. 2. When the member 23 is rotated to the left, this pipe 35 will be carried to an inoperative out-of-the-way position under the edge of the seat and adjacent the rim of the toilet bowl as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2.

The numeral 36 designates a short pipe having one end rigidly secured to the container 23 and communicating with the inside of that member at a point slightly below the point of communication of the pipe 35 as shown in Fig. 4. This pipe 36 also extends into the bowl H] by passing between the seat l2 and rim II, and discharges downwardly into the bowl, the purpose of which will hereinafter be understood. The numeral 3'! designates a piston member slidably mounted inside the cylindrical container 23. The numeral 38 designates passageways extending vertically through the member 31. The numeral 39 designates a coil spring inside the container 23 having its lower end in engagement with the bottom of the container 23 and its upper end in engagement with the bottom of the piston member 31. This coil spring 39 yieldingly holds the piston 31 in an elevated position for closing the communicating points ofthe pipe 31 from the inside-of the container 23. When the piston member 31 is in this position, water passing through the pipe 24 may pass into the inside of the container 23 and out through the drain pipe 36. The numeral 40 designates a vertical valve shaft slidably extending through the top of the container 23 and having its lower end secured to the piston member 37. The numeral 4| designates a handle member secured to the top of the shaft 40. the shaft 40 will be prevented from independent rotation relative to the container 23, I have provided horizontal lugs 42 on the shaft 40 which engage vertical groove-ways 43 in the upper end of the housing 23. Y

The practical operation of my device is as follows: When the user places his weight on the seat l2, the seat will be depressed to a horizontal position as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1. As herebefore pointed out, this will depress the valve 22 to an open position, thereby permitting the water to enter the heating unit IT. The action also will close the electric circuit and the water passing through the heating unit l1 will be heated. This heated water will pass through the pipe 24, through the member 23, and out into the toilet bowl ID through the pipe 36. As the pipes 35 and 36 will be in an inoperative position during the use of the toilet bowl, the heated water will slowly discharge in a downward direction into the toilet bowl. Obviously, the thermostat will regulate the temperature of the water flowing through the device. It will be noted, however, that when weight is not on the seat l2, water will not be permitted to drain into the bowl l0 and neither will the water be heated in the heating unit ll. When it is desired to use my device, the water will not be too hot nor too cold, and to use the device, it is merely necessary for the operator to grasp the handle 4| and horizontally move it to a position where the pipe 35 is at the center of the bowl as shown in Fig. 2, and then depress the same vertically downwardly. By thus actuating the handle M, the piston 31 will be moved downwardly to a point where it will close the communication point of the pipe 36 to the inside of the container 23, leaving the pipe 35 to freely communicate with the inside of the container 33. The warm water passing into the container 23 will pass upwardly through the passageways 38 and out through the pipe 35 where it will be discharged upwardly on the parts to be washed. By such construction, the warm water will not be discharged upwardly from the pipe 35 until the user has properly positioned the pipe 35 and forced the shaft 40 downwardly by the use of the handle 4|.

By merely releasing pressure on the handle 4|, the spring 39 will move the piston 31 upwardly, thereby closing the communication point of the pipe 35 with the inside of the container 23. When suflicient use of the device has been had, the handle 4| is then rotated to bring the pipes 35 and 36 to an inoperative position as shown in Fig. 2. As soon as one releases the downward pressure on the seat l2, the action of the spring 2! will move the shaft 26 outwardly, close the valve 22 and break the electric circuit. The automatic thermostat 3| will act as a safety for preventing the water in the heating unit H from becoming too hot.

The numeral 44 designates a shut-01f valve in advance of the valve 22 and may be placed in a closed position at times when it is not desired to have the water flow through the apparatus. The numeral 45 designates a regulating valve imposed in the pipe 2| for adjusting the flow of the water into the heating unit.

Some changesmay be made in the construction and'arrangement of my improved device for use- In order that in connection with toilet bowl without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention and it is my intention to cover by my claims any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim:

1. In combination with a toilet bowl having a movable seat, a pipe having one end communicating with a source of water supply, an electrical heating element interposed in said pipe, an elec-- trical circuit connecting said electrical heating element to a source of electrical supply, a switch interposed in said circuit and actuated by the movement of said seat, a valve interposed in said pipe actuated by the movement of said seat, a discharge pipe having one end discharging into said bowl and its other end capable of communicating with the inside of the said first-mentioned pipe at times, a second pipe having one end discharging into said bowl and its other end capable of communicating with the inside of said firstmentioned pipe at times, and manually operated valve mechanism for selectively causing water in said first-mentioned pipe to flow through either said first or second discharge pipe.

2. In combination with a toilet bowl having a movable seat, a pipe having one end communicating with a source of water supply, an electrical heating element interposed in said pipe, an electrical circuit connecting said electrical heating element to a source of electrical supply, a switch interposed in said circuit and actuated by the movement of said seat, a valve interposed in said pipe actuated by the movement of said seat, a discharge pipe having one end discharging into said bowl and its other end capable of communicating with theinside of the said first-mentioned pipe at times, a movably mounted discharge pipe having one end discharging upwardly in the area of said toilet bowl and its other end capable of communicating with the inside of said first mentioned pipe at times, valve mechanism for selectively permitting water from said first mentioned pipe to flow through either of said discharge pipes, and a single handle member for manually operating said valve mechanism and moving said second-mentioned discharge pipe.

3. In combination with a toilet bowl having a movable seat, a pipe having one end communicating with a source of water supply, an electrical heating element interposed in said pipe, an electrical circuit connecting said electrical heating element to a source of electrical supply, a switch interposed in said circuit and actuated by the movement of said seat, a valve interposed in said pipe actuated by themovement of said seat, a yielding means for yieldingly holding said switch in an open position and the said valve in a closed position, a discharge pipe having one end discharging into said bowl and its other end capable of communicating with the inside of said first-mentioned pipe at times, and manually operated valve mechanism for selectively causing water in said first-mentioned pipe to flow through either said first or second discharge pipe.

4. In combination with a toilet bowl having a movable seat, a housing, a pipe extending into said housing and in communication with a source of liquid supply, an electrical heating unit inside said housing and interposed in said pipe, an electrical circuit connecting said heating unit with a. source of electrical supply, a switch interposed in said circuit inside said housing operatively connected to said seat and capable of being closed by said seat when said seat is forced downwardly, a means for operatively connecting said valve to said seat for opening said valve when said seat is forced downwardly, two discharge pipes each having one of their ends discharging into said bowl and their other end communicating with the inside of said first-mentioned pipe at times, and valve mechanism for selectively preventing or permitting the flow of liquid from said firstinentioned pipe to flow through said two discharge pipes.

5. In combination with a toilet bowl having a movable seat, a pipe having one end communieating with a source of water supply, an electrical heating element interposed in said pipe, an electrical circuit connecting said electrical heating element to a source of electrical supply, a switch interposed in said circuit and actuated by the movement of said seat, a discharge pipe having one end discharging into said bowl and its other end capable oi communicating with the inside of the said first-mentioned pipe at times, a second pipe having one end discharging into said bowl and its other end capable of communicating with the inside of said first-mentioned pipe at times, and manually operated valve mechanism for selectively causing water in said firstmentioned pipe to flow through either said first or second discharge pipe.

6. In combination with a toilet bowl having a movable seat, a pipe having one end communicating with a source of water supply, a valve interposed in said pipe actuated by the movement of said seat, a yielding means for yieldingly holding said valve in a closed position, a discharge pipe having one end discharging into said bowl and its other end capable of communicating with the inside of the said first-mentioned pipe at times, a second pipe having one end discharging into said bowl and its other end capable of communicating with the inside of said first-mentioned pipe at times, and manually operated valve mechanism for selectively causing water in said first-mentioned pipe to flow through either said first or second discharge pipe.

7. In combination with a toilet bowl having a movable seat, a housing, a pipe extending into said housing and in communication with a source of liquid supply, an electrical heating unit inside said housing and interposed in said pipe, an electrical circuit connecting said heating unit with a source of electrical supply, a switch interposed in said circuit inside said housing operatively connected to said seat and capable of being closed by said seat when said seat is forced downwardly, a means for operatively connecting said valve to said seat for opening said valve when said seat is forced downwardly, two discharge pipes each having one of their ends discharging into said bowl and their other end communicating with the inside of said first-mentioned pipe at times, an automatic thermostat interposed in said circuit and in communication with the in-, side of said pipe, and valve mechanism for selectively preventing or permitting the flow of liquid from said first-mentioned pipe to flow through said two discharge pipes.

CLARENCE L. HEALD. 

